- Aerosinusitis
Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME
Caption = Paranasal sinuses.
DiseasesDB =
ICD10 = ICD10|T|70|1|t|66
ICD9 = ICD9|993.1 | ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj =
eMedicineTopic =
MeshID =Aerosinusitis, also called barosinusitis, sinus squeeze or sinus
barotrauma is a painfulinflammation and sometimes bleeding of the membrane of theparanasal sinus cavities, normally thefrontal sinus . It is caused by a difference inair pressure s inside and outside the cavities.cite book |title=US Navy Diving Manual, 6th revision |year=2006 |publisher=US Naval Sea Systems Command |location=United States |url=http://www.supsalv.org/00c3_publications.asp?destPage=00c3&pageID=3.9 |accessdate=2008-07-19 ] cite book |title=Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving, 5th Rev ed. |last=Brubakk |first=A. O. |coauthors=T. S. Neuman |year=2003 |publisher=Saunders Ltd. |location=United States |isbn=0702025712 |pages=800 ] cite book |title=Fundamentals Of Aerospace Medicine: Translating Research Into Clinical Applications, 3rd Rev Ed. |last=Dehart |first=R. L. |coauthors=J. R. Davis |year=2002 |publisher=Lippincott Williams And Wilkins |location=United States |isbn=9780781728980 |pages=720 ] cite journal |author=Fitzpatrick DT, Franck BA, Mason KT, Shannon SG |title=Risk factors for symptomatic otic and sinus barotrauma in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber |journal=Undersea Hyperb Med |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=243–7 |year=1999 |pmid=10642071 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2316 |accessdate=2008-07-19] cite journal |author=Weitzel EK, McMains KC, Rajapaksa S, Wormald PJ |title=Aerosinusitis: pathophysiology, prophylaxis, and management in passengers and aircrew |journal=Aviat Space Environ Med |volume=79 |issue=1 |pages=50–3 |year=2008 |month=January |pmid=18225779 |doi= |url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2008/00000079/00000001/art00010 |accessdate=2008-07-19]Presentation and diagnosis
Most cases occur in Scuba divers and fliers, and are easily diagnosed when presented to physicians immediately after exposure. On the other hand, the problem may remain undiagnosed when the history fails to relate the symptoms to exposure to environmental pressure changes or if the focus is on other etiologies.
Typically, sinus
barotrauma is preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection orallergy . The affected person suffers a sudden sharp facial pain or headache during descent, which increases as the aircraft approaches ground level. The pain can ultimately become disabling unless the ambient pressure is reversed.The pressure difference causes the mucosal lining of the sinuses to become swollen and submucosal bleeding follows with further difficulties ventilating the sinus, especially if the orifices are involved. Ultimately fluid or blood will fill the space.
In most cases of sinus barotrauma, localized pain to the frontal area is the predominant symptom. This is due to pain originating from the frontal sinus, it being above the brow bones. Less common is pain referred to the temporal, occipital, or retrobulbar region. Epistaxis or serosaquineous secretion from the nose may occur. Neurological symptoms may affect the adjacent fifth cranial nerve and especially the infraorbital nerve.
Sinus barotrauma or aerosinusitis has been known since the early development of
aviation medicine . However, it was duringWorld War II that the subject first received serious attention and the pathogenesis of the disease was understood to be due to exposure to high altitude flights. Rapid altitude changes with accompanying changes in ambient pressure exposed the aircrews to an increasing number of episodes of sinus barotrauma.Referred pain from barosinusitis to the maxilla consists about one-fifth of the in-flight Barodontagia (i.e., dental pain caused by barometric-pressure change) [cite journal |author=Zadik Y, Chapnik L, Goldstein L |title=In-flight barodontalgia: analysis of 29 cases in military aircrew |journal=Aviat Space Environ Med |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=593–6 |year=2007 |month=June |pmid=17571660 |doi= |url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2007/00000078/00000006/art00009 |accessdate=2008-07-16] .
Although the environment of fighter pilots produces the most stressful barometric changes, commercial flying has changed the picture of the disease.
The pathology of sinus barotrauma is directly related to
Boyle's law , which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the pressure on it, when temperature is constant (P1 × V1 = P2 × V2).Two types of acute barotrauma are observed: squeeze and reverse squeeze.On ascent, the air in the paranasal sinuses will expand according to Boyle's law, contracting during descent. Normally, the sinuses drain into the nasal cavity through small ostia, which permit mucocilliary clearance and ventilation that equilibrates pressure. However, when the opening is obstructed due to inflammation, polyps, mucosal thickening, anatomical abnormalities, or other lesions, pressure equilibration is impossible. Squeeze is produced on descent when trapped air in the sinuses contracts and produces negative pressure. The pressure differentials are directed to the center of the sinuses producing mucosal edema, transudation, and mucosal-or submucosal-hematoma, leading to further occlusion of the sinus ostium. The sinus will fill with fluid or blood unless the pressure differential is neutralized.
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